Julie Currie

Every single poppy sold in Scotland is hand made by a team of veterans at the Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh.

After the Great War, the Earl Haig Fund acquired its poppies from England.

Memoraibilia....and thank you letters from the 3000 school children and 3000 adults who visit the factory every year is displayed proudly in the factory. (Pic: Michael Gillen)

But in 1926, Countess Haig, wife of Field Marshal Douglas Haig, suggested that a factory, employing those men disabled by war, should be created to make poppies for Scotland.

First based in an old wood-chopping factory in the grounds of Whitefoord House in Edinburgh, it moved in 1965 to an old printing works in the city’s Warriston Road.

And after this year’s very special Armistice centenary year, the factory will be on the move again – albeit on a temporary basis.

A team of around 40 ex-servicemen and women who hand-assemble more than five million poppies and 12,000 wreaths every year for the Scottish Poppy Appeal will be moving to Redford Barracks for two years to allow for a much-needed refurbishment of the factory.

The aim is not to rip out the heart of what is a very special workplace – boasting regimental flags and thank you letters and posters from the thousands of school children who have visited.

But some £2.2 million from the Libor Fund – fines imposed on banks for manipulation of Libor levels – will ensure the factory is fit for the 21st Century.

Overseeing the move immediately after this year’s Remembrance Day will be factory manager Charlie Pelling, who has been at the helm since 2008.

During a tour of the factory, Charlie explained more about the move.

He said: “We’ll be moving on November 16 with the aim of being operational by the start of January.

“The aim is to be back at our factory in time for the 2020 or 2021 appeal.

“We have a small window of opportunity to make the move as the factory operates year round.